Adrenal hormones in human follicular fluid

Abstract

hormones in human follicular fluid. Acta Endocrinol 1992;127:403-6. ISSN 0001-5598Considerable evidence indicates that adrenal hormones may affect gonadal function. To assess the role of some adrenal hormones in human follicular fluid and their relationship with the ability of the oocyte to be fertilized and then to cleave in vitro, cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate were measured in follicular fluid obtained at the time of oocyte recovery for in vitro fertilization from cycles stimulated by clomiphene citrate, human menopausal gonadotropin and human chorionic gonadotropin. Thirty-six follicular fluid containing mature oocyte-corona-cumulus complexes and free of visible blood contamination were included in this study. There was no significant difference in follicular fluid dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate concentration between follicles with oocytes which did or did not fertilize (5.1 \ m=+-\ 1.1 vs 5.8 \m=+-\2.0\g=m\mol/l).However, follicular fluid from follicles whose oocytes were not fertilized had levels of cortisol significantly higher than those in follicular fluid from follicles containing successfully fertilized oocytes (406.0\m=+-\75.9 vs 339.2\m=+-\37.0nmol/l; p<0.005). No significant correlations were found between rates of embryo cleavage and cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone levels in follicular fluid. We conclude that cortisol levels in follicular fluid may provide an index of fertilization outcome, at least in stimulated cycles by clomiphene citrate, human menopausal gonadotropin and human chorionic gonadotropin.Inhibition of normal ovarian function has been observed during periods of adrenal hyperactivity (1-3), but the question as to how the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis affects fertility remains to be answered. An adrenal hormone-mediated decrease in pituitary responsiveness to gonadotropin-releasing hormone and a centrally mediated inhibition of GnRH release (4) have been suggested. However, Suter and Schwartz (5) have suggested that the adverse effects of glucocorticoids on reproduction in vivo are not exerted on the pituitary. Another possibility is that adrenal hormones may alter normal reproductive function by acting at the ovarian level (6-9). Cortisol is the main glucocorticoid secreted by the adrenal cortex. Cortisol and cortisolbinding protein (CBP) are present in follicular fluid (FF) (10-13). It is generally accepted that the actions of glucocorticoids are mediated through specific receptors, and glucocorticoid receptors have been shown to exist in ovaries (14).The main androgen secreted by adrenal gland is dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S). More than 90% of DHEA-S is of adrenal origin. DHEA-S is present in FF (15-17) and serves as an ovarian prehormone (18,19). Evidence of the possible importance of DHEA-S in ovarian function has recently been published (20, 21). This study was designed to determine whether adrenal hormones play a role in follicular physiology. We correlate cortisol and DHEA-S FF levels from cycles stimulated by clomiphene citrate (CC), human men...

Relationship between ovarian cortisol:cortisone ratios and the clinical outcome of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF‐ET)

“…However, the latter of these studies found the total and free intrafollicular cortisol concentrations to be up to 12% higher in FF samples from patients that did not conceive by IVF‐ET than in those samples obtained from conception cycles (Anderson & Hornnes, 1994). Previous studies reported a similar association between modestly elevated intrafollicular cortisol concentrations and failure of oocyte fertilization (Fateh et al ., 1989; Jimena et al ., 1992), despite the fact that the intrafollicular cortisol concentration was found to be over 2‐fold higher in follicles containing mature oocytes relative to follicles containing immature oocytes (Fateh et al ., 1989). In the present study, the mean cortisol concentration in follicular fluid samples obtained from conception IVF‐ET cycles was 25% lower than that measured in follicles aspirated from nonconception cycles, consistent with the previous report by Anderson & Hornnes (1994).…”

“…In our previous work, it was not possible to determine whether the clinical correlation between low ovarian 11βHSD activities and conception in IVF‐ET cycles reflects a positive role for increased ovarian exposure to cortisol in influencing subsequent embryonic development and implantation. Two prior studies have concluded that there was no association between intrafollicular cortisol concentrations and IVF‐ET outcome (Jimena et al ., 1992; Anderson & Hornnes, 1994). However, the latter of these studies found the total and free intrafollicular cortisol concentrations to be up to 12% higher in FF samples from patients that did not conceive by IVF‐ET than in those samples obtained from conception cycles (Anderson & Hornnes, 1994).…”

Restraint Stress Impairs Oocyte Developmental Potential in Mice: Role of CRH-Induced Apoptosis of Ovarian Cells1

“…Stressors of different types [25][26][27][28] or treatments with glucocorticoids [29][30][31][32] induce apoptosis in different tissues, including testicular germ cells [33]. Fluid from follicles of women whose oocytes were not fertilized contained cortisol levels significantly higher than in the fluid from follicles containing successfully fertilized oocytes [34]. Peripheral CRH has been identified in the reproductive system, including the ovary and testis [18].…”

Dehydroepiandrosterone in follicular fluid is produced locally, and levels correlate negatively with in vitro fertilization outcomes

“…Only a few in vitro studies are available, which show the utilization of DHEAS by granulosa cells via sulfatase for androgen and estrogen production (5,6). It is of interest, therefore, to explore further the sources of follicular DHEA and DHEAS and their roles in steroidogenesis in the setting of gonadotropin stimulation.…”

“…There is evidence that elevated levels of DHEA and DHEAS are associated with increased cortisol (7), which can directly inhibit steroidogenesis (8). In turn, higher FF cortisol has been shown to be associated with negative IVF outcomes (6,8).…”